Torque converter



, Feb. 22, 1944.I R L M|| ER TORQUE CONVERTER Filed sept. 19, 1940 Patented Feb. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES 1 PATENT OFFICE 2,342,208 TORQUE CONVERTER Raymond J. Miller, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Hydraulic Brake Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of California Application September 19, 1940, Serial No. 357,493 7 Claims. (Cl. 60-54) This invention relates to torque converters, and A turbine 66 has a hub 68 secured to the centermore particularly to means for control of the reshaft 48 as by a spline 10 and a rim 'l2 within the action member thereof. housing i8 having thereon a two-stage turbine 'I4 Broadly the invention comprehends means inand 16 including blades 18 and 80 having secured suring positive actuation of the reaction mem- 6 thereto shrouds 82 and 84 suitably secured to one ber of a torque converter. another.

An object of the invention is to provide posi- A parallel brake 86 is sleeved on and iixedly tive means for moving the reaction member into secured to the spindle 34 in abutting relation to and out of the uid circuit of the converter, inthe'hub 22 of the housing I8. This brake including :means for retaining the member against l cludes two rings having IcVcrScly disposed flanges rotation' in one direction when vin the circuit and and a coil spring interposed between the-flanges. for rotation ofthe member when retracted from Other types of expansible elements may be emthe circuit. ployed with satisfactory results. A needle bear- Other objects and advantages of the invention A ing 88 also sleeved on the spindle 34 supports for will appear from the following description taken l rotation a sleeve 90 engaged by the brake 86, and in connection with the drawing forming a part of the sleeve has a flange 92 provided with threads this specification, and in which- 94 having dogs 96.

Fig. 1 isa sectional view of a torque converter A heavy sleeve 98 is splined on the spindle 34 embodying the invention; in abutting relation to the bearing 88 and also Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating a preferred form 20 the sleeve 90. This heavy sleeve 98 has threads ofthe adjustment screw; and |00 corresponding in pitch 'to the pitch of the Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a modified form threads 94 and adapted to -register therewith. ofthe adjusting screw. The approaches of the threads |00 are rounded, Referring to the drawing for more specific deas indicated at |02, to provide enlarged entrances, tails of the invention, I0 represents the crank- 25 the purpose of which will hereinafter appear, and case of an internal combustion engine, and I2 a' collar |04 threaded on the end of the spindle the crank-shaft of the engine. The crank-case serves to retain the assembly against displacehas suitably secured thereto a bell housing |4 ment. enclosing a torque converter indicated generally A carrier |06 mounted for rotation on the sleeve at I6. The torque converter includes a housing 90, and also for travel longitudinally, has threads' I8 having a hub 20 bolted or otherwise secured |08 for Cooperation With the threads 94 0n the to the crank-shaft I2 and an oppositely disposed sleeve90 and also the threads |00 on the sleeve hub 22. The housing I8 has a plurality of im- 98, and the leading ends of the threads |08 are peller blades 24 arranged on the inner wall thereprovided with dogs I I0 for @Operation With the of, and a shroud. 26 is secured to the blades. 35 dogs 96 on the threads 94 on the sleeve 90.

A bracket 28 secured to the wall of the bell The carrier |06 has secured thereto a collar housing I4 as by suitable ttings 30 has secured I|2 supporting a Web H4 Within the housing |3- on one side thereof a ring 32 supporting a hollow A pluraty of reaction vanes IIS are arranged on spindle 34 extended concentrically through an the web, and each of these vanes has a tab H8, opening 36 in the bracket and through the -hub 40 and a shroud |20 is suitably secured to the vanes. 22 into the housing I8, also a laterally extended A modification of the engagement screw is ilflange 38, and a needle bearing 40 is tted between lustrated in Fig. 3. In this embodiment a sleeve the hub 22 and the spindle 34. A ringA 42 secured |22 has threads |24 corresponding to the threads i to the bracket in oppositely disposed lrelation t0 94 on the sleeve 90. The threads 24 are conthe ring 32 has a ange 44 overhanging the hub 45 tinued throughout the length ofthe sleeve |22 22;- A fluid pump 46 of anyjsuitable structure and the dogs are omitted.

preferably of the gear type is mounted in the 4In both the preferred and modified forms of opening 36 in the bracket between the rings 32 the engagement screw, the ratio of the threads and 42 and is driven by the housing I8, and sult- |00 on the sleeve 98 to the threads 94 or the able packing is supported by the flanges 38 and 44 50 threads |24 may be in any multiple desired.

for inhibiting seepage of fluid. As illustrated, the elements of the unit are in A center-shaft 48 supported for rotation on a position for the unit to function as a fluid couball bearing 50 in the hub 20 of the housing and pling. In a normal operation, iluid is delivered on a needle bearing 52 in the hollowspindle 34 has from I:he outlet of the pump 46 through the hollow a circumferential flange 54 supporting a clutch 55 shaft 48 to the impeller blades 24 and returns from member 56, and a driven shaft 58 journaled in a the housing I8 to the' pump as by an inlet not bushing 60 inthe flange 54 in axial alignment shown. The blades of the impeller impart mowith the center-shaft 48 has splined thereon. a tion to the iluid, resulting in the uid being carcollar 62 carrying a clutch member 64 for coopried to the wall of the housing I8 where the fluid eration with the clutch member 56. The clutch 6o impinges on the blades 18 of the first stage 14 may be of any suitable type, operative in conof the turbine, transmitting a part of its motion ventional manner. thereto.

- member continues by the dogs IIO on -rneans for interlocking The fluid is then conveyed by the trailing edges o! the vanes 'I8 of the first stage 'I4 of the turbine to the entrance edges of the blades 80 of the second stage I6 of the turbine, imparting the remainder of its motion thereto, thence to the blades 24 of the impeller t0 complete the cycle.

When torque is required, the direction of fluid flow in the housing is such that the iiuid impinging on the tabs I I8, results in rst slowing the reaction member I I4 down until it stops, whereupon the pressure of the fluid starts to rotate the member in the opposite direction. The brake vt5 slightly restrains the member 90 against rotation, and this results in relative rotation between the sleeve 90 and the carrier |06, causing the dogs l IIl to disengage from the dogs 96, and the threads N8 to move forward in their respective grooves in the flange 92. At this instant, as the reaction to rotate in its new direction ot' rotation, the threads |08 enter the threads Ill assisted by the curved approaches H32 and the enlarged entrances. The reaction member continues to move forward on the engagement screw, bringing into the iluid flow the reaction vanes iIS. 'This movement is restrained by a unit including a plurality of springs, preferably arranged in pairs around the axis of the turbo be. tween the head of the engagement screw and the reaction member.

Upon attaining a predetermined speed, wherein torque multiplication is no longer required, the direction of the fluid flow changes and the fluid impinges on the backs of the reaction vanes I6. This results in automatic movement of the reaction member II4 on the threads IIl of the stationary sleeve 98 and on the threads et on the iiange 92 of the sleeve 90 frictionally restrained against movement by the brake t6.

As the reaction member travels on the threaded 'portions of the sleeves, the reaction vanes H6 move out of the iiuid tion member has assumed its fully retracted position, the dogs 96 on the threads 94 are engaged the threads Hi8. Thereafter the reaction member IM and the sleeve 90 rotate as a single unit subject to the slight frictional resistance presented by the brake 36. This completes the cycle, and the apparatus again functions as a uid coupling.

While this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, the principle involved is susceptible of numerous other applications that will readily occur to persons and means for moving the member including rela- 1 tively rotatable co-axial threaded members, a carrier for the reaction member mounted for threaded travel on the threaded members, and

tatable threaded member when the reaction member is in retracted position.

2. A torque converter comprising an impeller, a turbine ior cooperation therewith, a reaction member associated with the turbine, means for -moving the reaction member into and out of fluid flow including a fixed threaded member, a rocircuit, and when the reacasaaaoe n tatable threaded member associated therewith, a carrier for the reaction., member mounted for I threaded travel on thethreaded members, and

' skilled in the art. The invention is, therefore, to

the carrier with the romeans for resisting movement of threaded member.

3. A torque converter comprising an impeller, a turbine for cooperation therewith, a reaction member associated with the turbine, means for moving the 'reaction member into and out of fluid now including a fixed threaded member, a rotatable threaded member in axial alignment with the fixed threaded member, a carrier for the rethe rotatable .action member mounted for threaded travel on the threaded members, and means for slightly resisting movement of the rotatable threaded member. A f

4. A torque converter comprising an impeller, a turbine providing in conjunction therewith a fluid circuit, a fixed threaded member, a rotatable threaded member in axial alignment with the iixed threaded membenacarrier mounted for threaded travel on the fixed and rotatable members, a reaction member on the carrier adapted to move into and out of the circuit, a yielding element between the fixed member and the carrier, and means for frictionally resisting movement of the rotatable member.

5. A torque converter comprising an impeller and a turbine providing in conjunction with one another a fluid circuit, a fixed threaded member, guide means at the entrances of the threads,v a rotatable member arranged end to end in axial alignment with the fixed member having threads corresponding in pitch to the threads on the fixed member, a carrier mounted for threaded travel on the threaded members, a reaction member supported on the carrier adapted to be moved by the carrier into and out of the iiuid circuit1 means yieldingly opposing movement of the reaction member into the iluid circuit, and means imposing slight resistance to movement of the rotatable member. f'

6. A torque converter comprising an impeller and a turbine providing in conjunction with one another a fluid circuit, a fixed threaded member,

a rotatable threaded member associated therewith, dogs on the rotatable member, a carrier mounted for travel on the iixed and rotatable members, dogs on the carrier for cooperation with the dogs on the rotatable member, a reaction member on the carrier movable into and out of the fluid circuit, means for progressively. opposing movement of the reaction member into the fluid circuit, and means for resisting rotation of the rotatable threaded member.

'7. A torque converter comprising an impeller a two-stage turbine providing in conjunction therewith a fluid circuit, a i'lxed threaded mem- -ber supported concentrlcally of the impeller and turbine, guide means on the approaches ofv the threads of the threaded member, a rotatable threaded member aligned with the fixed member, dogs on the threads of the rotatable mern' ber, a carrier having threads complementary to the threads on the fixed and rotatable'members for travel of the carrier on the members, dogs on the threads of the carrier for cooperation with the dogs on the threads of the rotatable member, a reaction member on the carrier adapted to move into and out of the circuit, n'ieans progressively opposing the reaction member as it moves into the circuit, and a brake resisting rotation oi the rotatable threaded member. v f 1 RAYMOND J. MILLER. 

